A MAN who knocked over a police officer when he was transporting almost £20,000 of drug money has been jailed for a year.
Ordering Brian Joseph Gallagher (50) to spend a further 18 months on licence after his release, Craigavon Court judge Patrick Lynch QC said the most serious aspect of the offences was the dangerous driving and it was "fortunate indeed the victim did not receive serious injury".
At an earlier hearing, Gallagher from Broom Walk in Dunmurry, pleaded guilty to offences of dangerous driving, possessing £18,000 of criminal property and common assault of a police officer on February 19 this year.
He had originally been charged with trying to kill the officer he drove into, but that was not proceeded with by the prosecution.
Prosecuting counsel Ian Tannahill told the court police attempted to stop Gallagher, driving a red Audi A4, on the Hillhall Road, but he drove off.
With the Audi caught in slow moving traffic, an officer shouted 'stop armed police', but Gallagher manoeuvred his vehicle around the police car and drove at the constable, who was struck and went to the ground over the bonnet, said the lawyer.
Gallagher drove off on the wrong side of the road, mounting a footpath.
A second police vehicle attempted to pull alongside but the Audi pulled into this vehicle before travelling on the wrong side of the roundabout.
The vehicle was spotted at McDonald's in Kennedy Way and Gallagher found in the toilets with a grey holdall. He told police: "There is no need to ram me. There's 18,000 in there I won on a bet".
The constable was treated for injuries to his forearm and right knee, bruising and friction burn.
Gallagher was also handed a two-year driving ban.
